PEACE IN THE EAST

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 139, 29 May 1935, Page 8

PEACE IN THE EAST

JAPANESE VIEWPOINT Freedom from the West WAR DANGER DISCOUNTED Admitting that he spoke as a barrister to plead Japan’s cause, Dr. Toyohiko Kagawa, the noted reformer, author and evangelist, gave a very frank outline of the Japanese viewpoint on recent movements in the East in an address on “The Problem of the Pacific’’ in Auckland. The lecture was attended by over 2000 people.

On what he termed the “Manchukuo event’’ Dr. Kagawa maintained very strongly the “ingratitude of China for past kindness’ and the unfair attitude of Western nations. The lecture was invaluable as making clear the viewpoint of a Japanese who belongs, nevertheless, to the definitely antimilitaristic party. “Because in the past two or three years Japan has been a trouble-maker I feel that I must give some apology for its sake,” Dr. Kagawa said, in his opening remarks. “1 hope you will allow me to speak very frankly. Some people have a great prejudice against the yellow race, and some of us have a great prejudice against the white races also ? but this tune we will put all prejudices aside.”

Dr. Kagawa outlined the past history of Japan and the early contacts with Western civilisation. He pointed out that, whereas the Chinese race was homogeneous, the Japanese race was the result of the fusion of many successive racial invasions. Although one language was spoken, it Gore the clear trace of its composite origin. Tor example, there were a great many alternatives for the first personal pronoun. Then there was the great cultural influence of the Chinese race, although in actual numbers the Chinese had never formed more than a negligible proportion of the population. Dr. Kagawa also traced a similarity between the Japanese language and customs, particularly its matriarchal system, and ancient Egypt. FEARS OF .JAPANESE.

“Japan is the only indigenous, independent nation of the yellow race,” said Dr Kagawa. “China exists with the mercy or the League of Nations. If China, could be independent, Japan and China could be good friends and then the yeiiow race could be independent. Lloyd George was afraid that Japan might lead some big war against the white race, as the Turks did in the Middle Ages, but before you think of the ‘Yellow Peril,’ just reverse the situation, and think of the misery of the yeiiow race. Japan is the only independent nation. Only when China and Japan can be friendly shall we be safe in the iar East. That is the true fear of the Japanese peopie.” Dr. Kagawa commended the United States of America for taking steps to grant the Phillipine Islands their independence. “That releases the pressure felt on Japan and China,” he said. “We were afraid that some day Japan would be isolated and strung to death. If this were a political convention, I would probably speak very smoothly and beautifully foolish things, b it because you are here under the auspices of the Y.M.C.A. and the League of Nations Union, 1 feel sure you have sympathies with Japan, and I shall speak frankly.” Dr. Kagawa deplored the fact that Communistic influence in China had turned that nation against Japan and caused the “Manchukuo event’’ through Japan’s need to protect its rights. POPULATION PRESSURE. “VVhen the League of Nations Commission was set up, Japan was afraid that Manchuria would be controlled by European Powers as a mandate from the League,” the speaker continued “It was felt that China and Japan could never be independent if that were done, and that much future trouble would result if the white race stepped in. The Manchukuo Government has now given kind permission to the Japanese Government to send emigrants there, and the Brazilian Government also receives 20,000 immigrants each year from Japan. Japan’s agricultural science has progressed so far that 200 bushels of rice can be produced each year from an acre of ground. To-day, therefore, the fear of insufficient food has disappeared. There is no thought in Japan of wanting to send emigrants to Australia.”

Talk of war between Japan and the United States of America was discounted by Dr. Kagawa, who said that not only was there insufficient motive, but also the Japanese statesmen, most of whom had been educated in America, had too great a remembrance of American kindness. It was the same with Great Britain. So long as past kindness had not been wiped out, the Japanese people would not forget it. SUGGESTIONS FOR PEACE. To ensure lasting peace in the Pacific, concluded Dr. Kagawa, it was essential that there should be economic understanding. Japan was prepared to send representatives to any economic conference convened by the League, and in any case would probably rejoin the League if other nations recognised Manchukuo. An economic conference based on goodwill and co-operation should therefore Be called in the Pacific yearly, and even if it failed at the beginning, its effect would be cumula-

The second method of ensuring peace was to hold an educational conference at which decisions to ban propaganda from text-books could be made, and arrangements discussed for the interchange of students between universities in the different countries. Nothing would bring about better understand ing. Finally, the most important essential for peace was the awakening of the consciences of the different races. Therefore the principles of Christianity must be instilled into the minds of the Japanese and Chinese, and of the Western nations also.